alfilaria

[ al-fil-uh-ree-uh ]
/ ælˌfɪl əˈri ə /

noun

a European plant, Erodium cicutarium, of the geranium family, grown for forage in the U.S.
Also called pin clover.

Origin of alfilaria

1865–70, Americanism; < Spanish alfilerillo, equivalent to alfiler pin (< Arabic al-khilāl the pin) + -illo diminutive suffix

Words nearby alfilaria

alfalfa weevil, alfaro, alfheim, alfie, alfieri, alfilaria, alfisol, alfonso i, alfonso v, alfonso vi, alfonso x

Example sentences from the Web for alfilaria

  • The Geranium, like the Alfilaria, has a fruit resembling the long beak of the crane or stork.

    Flowers of Mountain and Plain |Edith S. Clements

  • There had been many winter snows and spring rains, so that the alfilaria covered the hills with a carpet of grass.

    Mavericks |William MacLeod Raine

British Dictionary definitions for alfilaria

alfilaria

alfileria

/ (ˌælfɪˈlɛərɪə) /

noun

a geraniaceous plant, Erodium cicutarium, native to Europe, with finely divided leaves and small pink or purplish flowers. It is widely naturalized in North America and is used as fodder Also called: pin clover

Word Origin for alfilaria

via American Spanish from Spanish alfilerillo, from alfiler pin, from Arabic al-khilāl the thorn